NC3 and its partners 3M and Festo were excited to host the launch of the inaugural Introduction to Mechatronics Certification at the Festo and 3M Manufacturing and Academic Partnerships Educators Summit in Eatontown, NJ earlier this month.

Ten different (secondary and post-secondary) schools representing four states participated in the new certification at Festo’s U.S. Headquarters.

The Introduction to Mechatronics Certification is supported by both of NC3’s partners through 3M’s MAP Program (Manufacturing and Academic Partnership) and the Festo MecLab.

The 3M MAP program takes a holistic approach and helps build community coalitions between secondary and post-secondary education institutions.

The 3M MAP program operates in communities where their manufacturing plants are located. 3M provides grants to colleges to purchase Festo’s MecLab equipment, access to NC3’s Train-the-Trainer courses, and the NC3/3M/Festo curriculum accompanied with the equipment. The equipment and curriculum are then used in the local high schools that feed into the technical college. By exposing students to alternatives to a traditional 4-year degree program, the program encourages increased enrollment at the college level, from which industry can recruit future technicians, post-graduation.

Click here to learn more about the NC3’s newest certification, Introduction to Mechatronics.

View the upcoming Train-the-Trainer dates on NC3’s website by clicking here. The Intro to Mechatronics will be held at our last 2019 Train-the-Trainer event this October at Wayne Community College. The first 2020 Train-the-Trainer event will open registration in late September.

If you have questions about this event/opportunity, please contact Lisa Marshall at lisa.marsall@nc3.net.